Jonathan’s Gems: Our favorite things to see and do at Dromoland Castle in Ireland

The first Celebrated Hotel I ever visited in Ireland was Dromoland Castle. I will never forget turning onto the drive leading to the castle and seeing this incredible property as I rounded the bend. How can you not think you are living in a fairy tale! I fell in love with Dromoland Castle that day, and our team loves recommending this luxury 5-star castle to our clients because we love the warm feedback we receive when we are able to make client’s dreams come true!

There are a few items that make Dromland Castle really stand out for our Celebrated Team:

There is so much to see and do in the area. We love the Shannon Region. You could stay at Dromoland Castle for many days as there is so much to see! From the castle, some of the iconic highlights you can easily visit are The Cliffs of Moher, Burren National Park, Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, King John’s Castle and the town of Ennis (noted for its pubs). Also, there are many off-the-beaten path favorites such as the Cliffs of Kilkee, The Burren Perfumery and The Hunt Museum in Limerick. Slightly further afield and doable as daytrips are Galway and even The Aran Islands. Dromoland Castle also provides lovely picnic lunches that guests can take with them on a day of exploration.

The most boring – yet practical – reason to enjoy Dromoland Castle? It’s location! Located just 15 minutes from Shannon Airport it is the perfect way to begin or conclude an adventure in Ireland. Some of our clients from the East Coast of the US even fly to Dromoland for long weekends.

The history. Dromoland Castle is one of the most famous baronial castles in Ireland and was the ancestral home of the O’Briens, who are one of the few native Gaelic families of royal blood and direct descendants of High King of Ireland, Brian Boru, in the 11th century. Like most castles around the world, the original castle has been added to throughout the centuries, and as you explore the castle you can learn about so many incredible stories about past owners and guests.

Our clients revel in the estate activities at Dromoland. Clearly the most popular is falconry! Guests rave about this stimulating, unique and memorable experience. All of their majestic, beautiful birds are captive bred, both in Ireland and abroad. They include different species of falcons, hawks and owls. Other favorite activities include archery, fishing on their lake, a pony and trap (horse and carriage) tour of the estate, and horseback riding.

Afternoon tea is not to be missed when visiting Ireland, but what could be more elegant with a sense of place than an afternoon tea in an Irish Castle? At Dromoland, it is called “Mrs. White’s Afternoon Tea,” named for a kitchen maid who worked in the castle for many years. We love organizing this experience for clients, best enjoyed in the Gallery Lounge or Cocktail Bar.

Nothing garners more positive feedback at Dromoland Castle than notes we receive about their incredibly warm and personable team. What better way to engage with these incredible personalities than at the bar while tasting Irish whisky or learning more about the incredible indigenous gins popping up around Ireland. In the evening, there is almost always local music playing in the bar. It is quite an atmosphere!